Focussing headpiece for miner s electric cap lamp



1960 H. A. LOZEAU 2,947,851

FOCUSSING HEADPIECE FOR MINER'S ELECTRIC CAP LAMP Filed Dec. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 INVENTOR HOMER A. LOZEAU ATTORNEY 1960 H. A. LOZEAU 2,947,851

FOCUSSING HEADPIECE FOR MINER'S ELECTRIC CAP LAMP Filed Dec. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States 'PatentfCf This invention relates to an adjustable electric lamp structure and, more particularly, to a miners safety lamp of the type commonly referred to as a miners cap lamp. In general, this form of lamp is made up of a headpiece in which an electric lamp is secured. Also provided are means for supporting the headpiece on a cap, hat or other part of the clothing worn by a miner together with an electric storage battery which is supported by a suitable holding device around the waist of the miner. battery upwardly to the headpiece. V

Currently, miners electric cap lamps are equipped with two bulbs or, with a reflector and two-filament bulb.

In the two-filament bulb, one filament is located at or near the focal point of the reflector and the other fi.la ment is located a short distance away from the focal point. Either filament provides a satisfactory light pattern when used with a matte-finished reflector, but only the filament most nearly in focus provides a satisfactory beam when used with a specular finished reflector of the class now employed most extensively in theart. More recent cap lamp models have included a focussing device but it affected only the more central filament and did not improve the light beam from the second filament as well as the first. Thus the tendency has. been for the miner to use'the same focussed filament.

every day and to reserve the second filament for temporary and generally unsatisfactory use in event of .burn-, out of the correctly focussed filament.

The present invention is based on the novel concept of combining filament energization and beam focussing in one simplified turning adjustment. .To accomplish this objective, I have devised a lamp and electrical'switch arrangement wherein I provide means responsive to movement of the electrical switch for focussing a re-' flected beam of light from the lamp. The arrangement An electrical conductor extends from the 2,947,851 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 Ice 2 bodies,'which is utilized to open and close independent circuits to each of the filaments in a two filament bulb, may also be employed to activate the reflector positioning apparatus in a 'predetremined sequence capable of being repeated throughout the useful working life of the The nature of the invention and its objects, as well' as other novel features, will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view illustrating the adjustable lamp structure of the invention for use with a miners cap or other supporting means, and, further indi-. eating a storage battery and electrical conductor of the class commonly carried by a miner in conjunction with a miners cap lamp;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the lamp structure shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of 1 Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. .5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6. is a detail elevational view of a focussing sleeve element; t Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a rotor switch element; and

, Figs. 8-11 inclusiveare diagrammatic views illustrat-v ing a series 'of sequence positions assumed by the rotor switch element and reflector positioning apparatus in operation. 5 a Referrin'gmore in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, numeral 2. denotes a cup shaped lamp enclosure .body which may preferably consist of Bakelite or other rigid molded plastic. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the enclosure body is recessed at one side to define a chamber 4 which is normally closed by means of a glass lens 6. adjustably secured in place bymeans of a threaded noted is well adapted for use in focussing a light beam from either a single filament lamp or multiple filamentlamp, but is especially suited for use with a lamp having two filaments. The several components referred to are arranged in such relation to. one another as to provide for sequential operation of each filament of a two filament lamp whereby each filament is used interchangeably. Selective focussing of light from either filament,

takes place as a part of each sequence operation.

- I have found that these concepts of sequential operation may be practically embodied in one form, in an adjusting lamp structure in which aunique rotor switch device is combined in interlocking relationship with a special reflector positioning apparatus. Both of these units are so designed and organized with respect to a bulb and reflector structure as to maintain a high standard of safety and durability.

An important feature of the invention is the construction of the rotor switch in the form of a pair of cylindrically shaped conductor bodies with which is combined an eccentric element. By means of .the eccentric element, rotative movement of the cylindrical switch iently supported a bulb 18 (Fig. 3).

the outer rear wall of the enclosure 2 is a clip element 14 foruse in attachingthe lamp structure to supporting part of a minerscap or the like, as suggested in Fig. l.

Solidly secured in a centrally located opening in the enclosure'body2'is a lamp socket 16 in which is resil- The latter memher is held between the lens 6 and resilient projecting contact arms 20 and 22 which are secured within the enclosure body as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bulb 18 includes two filaments 24 and 26 which, as shown in Figs. 8-1-1- inclusive, are electrically connected to two bulb contacts 28 and 30'. The two bulb contacts are normally supported against both of the resilient contact illumination are constantly provided, either of which may be separately energized at will.

"Current is led in through the electrical conductor 10' to a terminal T secured in a recess 32 in the enclosure body at one side of the socket 16, as best shown in Fig. 4. In accordance with the invention, I provide a special rotor switch for selectively controlling flow of current through the two filaments 24 and 26. The rotor switch device is rotatably mounted between two opposite sides of the recess 32 immediately above the terminal T and consists of two'cylindrically shaped conductor parts 36 and 38-arranged ,in axially spaced-apart relation and joined to one another'by means of an eccentric pin 40.

The eccentric pin 40 is formed of an electrically conducting material and is covered with an outer annular shielding of insulation 42. Conductor part 38 is formed with a bearing stub 38' which is rotatably received in a-suitableopening in the"e'nclbsure body 2 while' con ductor part-36 is fixed to aspindl'e tfi whichprojects through the enclosure body 2 and has fixed at the outer end thereof a knurled operating button 48. Theouter peripheral surf-ace o'f conductor part 38 is; arranged to lie in rolling contact with a resilient brush element 50 extend-ing from the terminal T, and t-his brush element 59 isformed with a y-portion 52a (Fig-7), for engaging in one-orthe otherof two V' s lotsas 52 in; member 3-8 to thereby' locate anddefine two on? positions: The remaining conductor part=-36 is" also arrangedfto lie-in vi-i t ling contact with projecting brush'extrer'nities 22' and 23 (Fig. 4) of'-spring"contact elements 22 and 23; respectively. As shownin Figs-F3 'andfi ll inclusive, extremities 22 and 23' are L arranged- 1 to occur at i diametrically opposite sides of the-peripheralsuriace of conductor part 36, and thus two paths 'are completed through which :current may flow to the filaments under certain circumstances.

i-i-An-importance feature of the invention is the provision of special insulating means for selectively controllingflow ofl current through one or 'the other of'the brush extremi ties 22', 23' in an alternating manner. The insulating means-consists of insulat-ingstrip 54'which extends around the periphery of conductor part 36 through an arc of approximately 180; This insulating strip-is arra'nged to project outwardly into the path of the two brush extreme" tiesizl and 23 150" that -for-on'e-half a revolution the insulating strip 54 may hold one of the prbje'cting ex tr'em'ities out-of contact'wi-th theconductor part- 36 While the remaining-extension is making an electrical contact? During the next one-half'revolution of the conductor part" 36, the remaining extremity of a respective contact arm is moved out of contact and the first extension is allowed to engage; Also, at one point for a shortarc ofrota-' tion'both of the' extremities' 22 c and 23' are held outof contactwith the conductor part 36 and withfurthier turn ing another filament'r'nay'beienergized; -The manner in 'whichthe filamentenergizing circuits are completed through the bulb ma if desired; be ac complished in various ways. As illustrative of one particular-circuit= arangementyI have illustrate'dthe form showndia'grammatically in Figs: 8'-1*1 inc'lusive:-

-A t'tentionis drawn to Figs. '4- and7- inwhich current from the battery may flow-trout brush element-50mm the rotor switch component 38; then through the eccentric pin 40;;and' to -cylindrical conductor part 36 w InY-the Figs 8 position, the insulation strip--54finterrupts fiow of current to-eitherfilament.

"When the rotor switch is'turned througha short are of travel into the position, for example, of Fig; 9; flow of current goesfrom part 36 to' the contact-22' to bulb contact 30 to filament 24 to the 'bulbcontact 28to current. e -When the rotor switch is turned into a position such as shown in Fig. 10, both circuits to the filaments 21 and 26areheld open.- I t In-the position of Fig. 11 in which the rotor switch has been turned through another-short arc of travel, flow of current may go throughpart 36' to the contact 23 to the bulb base connection 23a, then to filament-26 to base contact-28. Thus other filamentsmay be selectively energizedatwill. In combination with this selective switch device described above-,-I-provide a--reflector-'and' refiector-posi tioning'apparatus which is actuated in responsetdrotative movement of the switch." Nurheralfifldenotesa reflector member-Which -is releasably secured in "atubularpart 62jslidahly disposed around "the socket 1 6. The"sleev'e" 62 is fornied with a" groove 64fint'dwhich extends"e ri ga'ging pins 66 andefi'xedin respecti M 70 and 72 which are pivotally supported on either side of a recessed pivot block 74 formed in the enclosure body at an opposite side from the rotor switch location. At their lower ends the lever elements are formed with yoked extremities 76 and 78 which are engaged around the eccentric insulating sleeve 42 as shown in Fig. 4.

The reflector 60 is detachably'supported in the enlarged end a. 0. 5 t mn ns 2, l t'i ld 63. r ad to receive lockili g pins: iliently supported in a spring ring 65. The reduced end of the reflector is nor;- l' t m e i Q hi f i e w h. thsc' i'ngs" 6'3 l'eleasably"erig'aging in 'ings, formedinthe reflector, as suggested in Fig. 3'.

In operating the reflector, positioning apparatus now described, the knurled knob, 48 is turned and the rotor switch first moves ffoma holding er '0 position in which the V-shaped contact is engaged in one of the V- slots in the conductorpart 38. Such a position isrepresentd 'di grammatically" in Fig. Sin" which neither filarrier'it circpi'tisenergized. "Rotative riiov'rnentcau's'es the co'nductor'part 38% p underthe'f V sha'ped contact 50a zindaftirafshoft arcravel one off'the contacts, a's' 22",'cornes into electrical engagement with the remaining duit'"throughthe filament 24. 'At' this pointfthe light which is pfgiduced "from 'firs't'energizing this'filament' 24 is n'o'f foCuSsedJ' However, the 'rot'ative' movement er the switch element has only t'o';be"continued for a very slight distance to cause the"'eccentric"40 'to act on the yoleed lever pprtions'76Land'78 and tomove thereflector tabe'szamr reflectance r'ea'rwardly into' a position which willproyide'a Correct'focusfor'the filament'fi', ass 11g gstedvmfig Purth'ei: rotative movement into the position shownin Fig; 10' "Will causethis energizedtfilamentto be de-en'er giz'ed, thusinterrupting all operation er the lamp.

Inthe nextslight arc of't'rayelof therotofswitch. the remaining filament 26 is energized and, finally, in the last part or there'voliitio'n or travel or the rotor" switch, the secondfocussing for the' filarrie'nt" beamis' 'acco'in plished,"as'indicatedin Fig. 11'. M Itis'pointedoufthat byrneans of the apparatus described,' a single'turning 'oper'ation'enables' a miner to very convenientlytumfona light beam and fc'c sh, and this" step'ma'y be quick ly"carried out by hand while the lamp is"supi:' orted' on 'the head. "Such "'an operation ma "in? the event there is asud'den filamentfailuffberepeated tofnotonlyrenew 'the'li'glit butto' obtain the proper foeussing Withlittle interruption or 'los's'"o f' tirfie in the case "ofsuch'a failure? -An important" advantage of the invention is the broad focussingadjustments' possible; since" each filament f'pe'r mits a miner; within limits, to obtain the sharpn ss "or spread of light beam which he finds most "convenient for his'"work': This may'vary with-thetypie' of work whichamine'r"m'ay be'doing. For example,a' miner operating from the back of a long mining machine would want as Sharp a" beam'" as possibleso" that it would penetrate through dust and spray." On the other hand, a man repairing afmoto'r or doingclose, Work underground might require a'broader lightpattern to minimize sharp gradations-from darkness tobrightness. 1 Another advantage of the inventionis-compensation for variationi'n the filament l'ocation"wh'ich 'comrnonly occurs in the'rnanfacture er bulbs.' "'All.bulbs," as manufa'ctured; are 'not"'exactlyl. uniform in the location of filament, andtheinvention-compensates thisby providing for a focusin a range of positions"whichwillltake care of any variations 'withra' minimum of diificulty.

An'o'ther' advantageof the specific arrangement described is that instead of one filamentfbeingfeciuired to operate all of' thei't ime until" failure," there will aufoni'atially oceufan alternating 'typ e of bperation'sinceitlieir switch enrg es first onelandl are lpther: filai'ne The net res ltifof -this iiiay well H operating life from a lamp before a bulb replacement operation is required. It will further be appreciated that the desirable two filament operation describedis accomplished with both safety and durability being maintained.

The invention has been described in one preferred form in which a two filament rotor switch is combined with focussing position apparatus. It should, be understood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to in connection with this structural formof the invention and, similarly, I may desire to employ the combination rotor switch and focuss'ing apparatus with various other filament arrangements, either of a single filament or a plurality of filaments in excess of the two illustrated.

The scope of the invention is to be understood as being defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

' 1. Miners lamp structure including a lamp enclosure body, a lamp unit detachably supported in the enclosure body, said lamp unit having independently operated filaments, electrical means for energizing said filaments and an electrical rotary switch device for selectively closing an electrical circuit through either of said filaments, and axially movable reflector apparatus responsive to rotative movement of the electrical switch device for focussing a reflected beam of light from either of said filaments in said lamp.

2. A miners lamp construction comprising in combination a lamp enclosure body, a lamp unit removably supported therein, said lamp unit including a tubular socket fixed centrally in the enclosure body and having a pair of electrical contact elements, a bulb member disposed in the socket and presenting a pair of'filaments occurring in electrically connected relationship to said electrical contact elements to'constitu-te two independent sources through which current may flow, a storage battery and electrical conductor means leading therefrom, a rotary switch device for closing a circuit through one of said filaments and simultaneously opening a circuit through the remaining filament, a reflector mounted around the bulb and slidable axially on said socket, reflector positioning mechanism pivotally attached at one side of the enclosure body, eccentric means forming a part of said rotary electrical switch operatively connected to the reflector positioning mechanism, and said eccentric adapted upon rotary movement of the switch device to move the reflector into focussing relationship with respect to a filament which is being energized.

3. A structure according to claim 2 in which the electrical switch device consists of a cylindrical conductor, a pair of oppositely disposed spring contact arms and a semi-circular insulating body extending around one of the cylindrical portions.

4. Miners lamp construction comprising in combination a lamp enclosure body having a lamp unit supported therein, said lamp unit including a socket and a bulb engaged in the socket, a reflector member including a tubular supporting part slidably mounted around the socket, a reflector positioning mechanism consisting of pivoted arms engageable with the tubular portion of the reflector, said pivoted arms being formed with bifurcated extremities, eccentric means engaged in the bifurcated extremities, a storage battery having electrical conductor means leading into the said enclosure body, and switch means integral with the eccentric means for energizing said filaments selectively and in a sequence which is determined by the position of said eccentric means.

5. Miners lamp construction comprising in combination a lamp enclosure body, a lens, a bezel for securing the lens at one side of the enclosure body, a socket fixed at an opposite side of the enclosure body and having a pair of electrical spring contacts projecting therefrom, a bulb resiliently supported between the lens 'and' said spring contacts in said socket, said bulb presenting a pair pf filaments occurring in electrically connected relationship to said electrical contacts in the socket thereby to constitute two independent sources of illumination, an electrical terminal secured within the enclosure body at one side thereof and having a notched spring arm extending upwardly therefrom, a storage battery and electrical conductor means connected through the enclosure body to said terminal, a rotor switch device rotatably mountedin the enclosure body in contact with said spring arms, said switch device including a rotor consisting of a pair of spaced-apart cylindrically shaped electrical conductor parts, 'an eccentric element joining the cylindrical parts together, one of said cylindrically shaped conductor parts having grooves formed in its peripheral surface 'for engaging with said notched spring arm and releasably securing the switch rotor parts in an off position, the second cylindrically shaped conductor portion of the rotor switch device having an insulating member projecting from its peripheral surface and extending around the periphery through an arc of a pair of spring contact arms resiliently engaged at either side of said second cylindrical conductor part and electrically connected to respective filaments of the bulb, said spring contact arms and insulating member cooperating with the said second'cylindrical conductor to open and close a circuit through each of the filaments in a predetermined sequence, a reflector having a tubular extension slidably disposed on the socket, a reflector positioning mechanism pivoted in the enclosure body at a point opposite from the rotor switch, said reflector positioning mechanism including a pair of arms engaged with said tubular extension to provide axial movement of the latter part when the arms are pivoted, said arms having their extremities engaged around the said eccentric element and insulating collar means for lying between the eccentric andthe arm extremities.

6. In an electric lamp, an enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure body and including filaments .for independent illumination, circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch means controlling said circuit means for selectively ener'gizing said filaments, a movably mounted reflector for said bulb, operating means connected to and actuated by said switch means, and means connecting said operating means and said reflector for adjustment of the latter upon operation of said operating means, said operating means being movable in opposite sectors, said switch energizing a diflerent one of said filaments when said operating means is moved in each of said sectors, said connecting means moving said reflector through a range of adjustment in each of said sectors for modifying the light distribution from the illuminated filament.

7. In an electric lamp, an enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure body and including filaments for independent illumination, circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch means controlling said circuit means, said switch means being movable to two positions for independently illuminating said filaments, a movably mounted reflector for said lbulb, operating means connected to and actuated by said switch means, means connecting said operating means and said reflector for adjustment of the latter upon operation of 'said switch means, said reflector having a similar pattern of movement upon actuation of said operating means by said switch means when the latter is moved to either of its two positions to provide a range of adjustment for modifying the light distribution from either of the illuminated filaments.

8. In a miners electric lamp, a lamp enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure body and including filaments for independent illumination, a source of current for said bulb for supplying current to either of said filament elements, circuit means connecting the source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch means controlling saidcircuits means for selectively illuminating said filamerits, a-moiiably mounted reflector for said bulb, and means operated by said switch means and interposed between said "switch means and said reflector and connected with the latter for moving the same upon movement of the switch when the switch is operated to selectively illuminate said filament, whereby operation of the switch will actuate the movably mounted reflector for -modifying the light distribution regardless of which filament is illuminated. I v,

' 9. In an electric lamp, an enclosure body, a bulb sup ported in a socket in said "enclosure body and including filaments for independent illumination, -circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch means controlling said circuit means for selectively energizing said filaments, a movably mounted reflector for said bulb, operating means connected to and actuated by said switch means, means connecting said operating means and said reflector for adjustment of the latter upon operation of said switch means, said operating means being reversely movable in the directions of the axis of said bulb, said switch energizing a different one of said filaments when said operating means is moved in each of said directions, and said connecting means moving said reflector through a range of adjustments in each of said directions for modifying the light distribution from the illuminated filament.

10. In an electric lamp, a lamp enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure body and including filament elements for independent illumination, circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch meanscontrolling said circuit means for selectively illuminating said filaments, a movably mounted reflector for said bulb, and means connecting said switch means and said reflector for movement of the latter upon movement of said switch to selectively illuminate said filaments, whereby operation of said switch will modify the position of the movably mounted reflector to focus the light from the illuminated filament.

11. In an electric lamp, an enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure body and including filament elements for independent illumination, circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, switch means controlling said circuit means for selec* tively illuminating said filaments, a movably mounted reflector for said bulb positioned in said enclosure body, and means connecting said switch means and said reflector for movement of the latter upon operation of said switch, whereby operation of said switch will alter the position of the movably mounted reflector to modify the light distribution from the illuminated filament.

12. In an electric lamp, an enclosure body, a bulb supported in a socket in said enclosure-body and including filaments for independent illumination, circuit means for connecting a source of current with the filaments in said bulb for illuminating said filaments, rotatable switch means controlling said circuit means, said rotatable switch means being movable to two positions for independently illuminating said filaments, a member eccentric to the axis of said rotatable switch means carried thereby and movable therewith, a movably mounted refiector for said bulb, operating means connected with said eccentric means and actuated by movement of said switch means, means connecting said operating means and said reflector for adjustment of the latter upon operationof'said switch means, said reflector having a similar pat'tern'of movement upon actuation of said operating means by said switch means when the latter is moved to either of its two positions to provide a range of adjustment for modifying the light distribution from either of the illuminated filaments.

-13. The structure of claim 12 characterized in that the operating means connected with the eccentric means and actuated by movement of the switch includes an arm pivoted at one extremity, connected with the reflector at its medial portion and engaging the eccentric portion carried by the switch at its other extremity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,616 Ku-rz Jan. 28, 1919 1,674,650 Leser June 26,v 1928 2,027,298 Wheat Ian. 7, 1936 2,516,993 Holt Aug. 1, 1950' 2,611,073 Wheat Sept. 16, 1952 

